Velocipede.



6 3 6 Patented Feb. 20, I900. 4 47 w. HABMON.

VELOCIPEDE.

(Application filed June 12, 1897.) N o M o d a l 7 Sheets-Sheet l No. 643,647. Patented Feb. 20, I900. W. HARMON.

VELOCIPEDE.

(Application filed June 12, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 Sheds-Sheet 2.

Patented Feb. 20, I900.

w. HARMON. VELOBIPEDE.

(Application filed June 12, 1897.)

o M e a I; a a h s 7 haw 4 '-(No Model.)

Wifgzsses u ifovge ys, Z a

No. 643,647. Patented Feb. 20, I900. W. HARMUN.

VELUCIPEDE.

(Application fllad June 12, 1897.)

1 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETERS c0, PHOTO-L\THO,WASHINGYON. u. c.

No. 643,647; Patented Feb. 20, I900.

W, HARMON.

VELOCIPEDE.

(Applicafiion filed. June 12, 1897.) (No Model.) 1 Sheets$heat 5. 5

wifgesszs *1; 772/070 Patented Feb. 20, I900. W. HARMUN.

VELOCIPEDE.

(Application filed June 12, 1897.)

Ta: NORRIS PETERS co. FHOTOJJTHO" (No Model.)

mH mm No. 643,647. Patented Feb. 20, 1900. W. l-IARIMH VELOCIPEDE.

(Application filed June 12, 1897.) (No Model.) 1 Sheets-Sheet '1.

UNITED STAT ES HFFICE.

PATENT WILLIAM HARMON, on BARTOW, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF To 'F. H. FARRELL, on HOMELAND, FLORIDA.

VELOClPEljE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 6435647, dated February 20, 1906; Application filed J iiiie 12 1897. Serial No. 640,540; (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HARMON, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Bartow, in the county of Polk and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Polycycle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of'vehi cles or road-machines which are propelled either by hand or foot power or a combination of the two and are utilized for pleasure and business andwhich are constructed to carry one or more riders solely or riders and merchandise, as required, in the latter capacity the machine serving to receive and carry packages and parcels of various kinds.

The purpose of this in vention is to construct a machine which will meet the aforesaid requirements and which can be readily adapt ed for climbing grades and to the load imposed thereon, thereby enabling the rider to propel the machine with equal ease on level and steep surfaces and with a light or heavy load.

For a fullunderstanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof,and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the invention applied to a bicycle. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view in section of the steering-post and the means for adjustably connecting the handle-bar therewith. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a directionpulley and its mountings for a pedalstrap. Fig. 5 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the clutch or intermittent grip for transmitting motion to the drive-wheel. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the lineYY of Fig. 6. Fig. Sisadetail viewof the foot-lever for setting the brake mechanism. Fig.9 isadetail view,in plan elevation,of

- the means for holding a pedal down out of the way to permit the easy mounting of the machine bya lady or miss. Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing the invention applied to a tri cycle, the dotted lines indicating the position of a detachable platform with a basket and a barrel placed thereon. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 10.

.Fig. 12 is a detail view of a treadle applied in the construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 for setting the brake. Fig. 13 is a detail View of a drive-wheel, showing the clutch between it and the axle. Fig. 14 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 10, showing the handle-bar pivotally connected with the steeringpost and resting upon a segmental support. Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the form of machine portrayed in Fig. 14.- Fig. 16 is a detail view of a different form of treadle or footlever for applying the brake. Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a different form of clutch or intermittent grip for transmitting motion from the pedals to the axle of the drivewheels and which is also used as a clutch between the drive-wheels and their axle. Fig. 18 is a transverse section on the line Z Z of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a front view of the upper forward portion of the style of machine illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. Fig. 20 is adetail view in perspective of a pedal-yoke. Fig. 21 is a detail view of the front portion of the frame of the machine depicted in Fig. 1. Fig. 22 is a detail view of a antifriction-bearing for the drive-wheel axle. Fig. 23 is a detail section on the line W W of Fig. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters. The frame of the bicycle is in the form of a fork, and consists of a bar 1 and a fork 2, the latter having the rear end portions of its side members outwardly deflected and projecting in the rear of the drive-wheel axle and having the pedals 3 fulcrumed thereto. The front end of the bar 1 is firmly attached to the headtube 4 and is strengthened by a curved brace 5,interposed between it and the upper end of the head-tube 4, said brace being secured at its lower portion to the frame-bar 1 bya cuff 6. The frame inclines downwardly and rearwardly from its front end, and its rear portion curves downwardly and terminates in a plane lower than a plane passing horizontally through the axle of the drive-wheel, thereby admitting of the pedals 3 coming below the plane of the drive-wheel axle.

The front fork 7 is mounted in the headtube 4 in the usual manner and is retained in place by a collar 8, secured to its stem or the steering-post 9, a ball-bearing being interposed between the head-tube and the forkstem in the ordinary manner, about as indicated in Fig. 21. The front wheel 10 is journaled between the fork members in any desired manner and is under the control of the rider by means of the handle-bar 11, which is applied to a sleeve 12, adjustablymounted upon the upper end of the steering-post and held in place by a binding-screw 13, entering one of a series of openings 14, provided at intervals in the length of the steering-post, the handle-bar being stiffened and strengthened by curved braces 15, interposed between it and the sleeve and extending from'opposite sides of the latter to the terminals of the handle-bar, as clearly indicated.

The seat 16 is secured to a post 17, having adjustable connection with a standard formed by joining the ends of the curved brace 5 and a companion staylS, the latter curving in an opposite direction to the brace 5and secured to the frame-bar 1 by a cuff 19.

The pedals 3 are pivoted at their rear ends to the curved extensions of the fork members 2 and have their front ends expanded and curved upwardly to comfortably receive the feet and operate in guides formed at the opposite ends of a pedal-yoke 20, which is curved Vertically and is rigidly secured at its upper end to the frame 1 and strengthened by front braces 21 and rear braces 22, the latter being secured at their upper rear ends to the fork members 2. The pedal-yoke is an approximately rectangular-shaped frame, and intermediate bars 23 are disposed parallel with the end bars and a short distance therefrom, forming spaces in which operate the front ends of the pedals, and which latter are guided in their vertical movements thereby. Pulleys 24: are journaled at the upper ends of the guides, and the operating-straps 25 pass thereover and are secured at their lower ends to the front portions of the respective pedals in any convenient way, the rear ends being secured to clutches or intermittent grips applied to the terminals of the drive-Wheel axle. Each pedal has a direction-pulley 26 adjustably connected therewith to vary the point of application of the power and leverage,whereby the speed of the propelling mechanism may be altered to meet any requirement, and this direction-pulley is journaled in a frame 27, slidably mounted upon the pedal and held in a located position by a suitable catch 28, which in the present instance consists of a spring-actuated pin carried by the frame 27, operating through an opening therein and adapted to enter one of a series of openings 29, formed in the pedal 3. Ballbearings are interposed between the axle and the direction-pulley to reduce the friction to the smallest amount possible. -,,By moving the direction-pulley 26 nearer the fulcrum of its pedal the leverage is decreased and the power proportionately increased, which is of advantage for hill-climbing, traversing sandy surfaces, and for carrying heavy loads but when speed is desired the direction-pulley is moved on the pedal away from its fulcrum to any required point, according to the desired leverage.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the single pulley 26 constitutes a shiftable fulcrum, which cooperates with the operating cable or strap 25 to provide simple and effective means for varying the point of the application of the power and leverage, whereby the speed of the propelling mechanism may be changed as desired. In short, the single pulley-26 may be properly referred to as a speed-changing pulley for changing what is known in the trade and among cyclists as the gear of the machine.

A clutch or intermittent grip is interposed between the pedal-straps and the axle of the rear or drive wheel 30, and consists of a disk 31, keyed to the axle 32, and a rimmed plate 33, loosely mounted upon the axle 32 and having its rim extending over the disk 31 and intermittently gripped by dogs 34, pressed outward by springs 35, the dogs being pivoted to a rabbeted portion of the disk 31 and acted upon by the springs 35, attached at their inner ends to the shouldered part of the disk formed by rabbetin g its edge portion, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 6. A rim 36 is fitted to the rimmed plate 33, and one end of the pedal or operating-strap 25 is attached thereto. The open side of the rimmed plate 33 is closed by a plate v37', the latter excluding dust, wet, and foreign matter from the interior of the clutch mechanism. A spring 38, composed of asingle length of spring-wire of suitable gage folded upon itself and having its side portions coiled, is mounted upon each end portion of the axle 32 and is secured at one end to a pin 39, projecting from a member of the fork 2, and at its opposite end to the rimmed plate 33, and serves to normally hold the clutch at a starting position and return it to a normal position after being actuated and released from the force applied thereto. The side members of the spring are similarly constructed and are loosely mounted upon the axle 32 by the intermediate coils and serve to equalize the force expended to return the clutch to an initial position when released after being operated. The axle 32 is mounted between its ends in antifrictionbearings 40, applied to the side members of the fork 2, and the drive-wheel 30 is secured thereto at an intermediate point.

An important feature of the propelling mechanism is the arrangement of each operating cable or strap 25 so that the same will pass directly from its connection with the clutch to and under the shiftable speedchanging pulley 26 and then up to and over the fixed direction-pulley on the frame before being connected to the pedal. This particular manner of weaving the cable around the pulleys permits the shiftable pulley 26 to have an adjustment on the pedal from a point near the connection of the cable with the pedal to a position in close proximity to the vertical plane of the clutch, as plainly indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A wide range of adjustment is thus secured, while at the same time permitting the portion of the cable extending between the clutch and the pulley 26 to be greatly lengthened or shortened, according to the amount of leverage required.

It has been :found desirable for ease in mounting, particularly for ladies and misses, to have the pedals held down at their movable ends, so asto be out of the way, and this result is effected by providing lugs 41 upon the bars 23 of the pedal-yoke and locating catches 42 upon the pedals, said catches being disposed at the inner ends of the footrests, so as to be operated bythe heel of the rider to be projectedzor withdrawn from out of the path of the lugs 41, as desired. The front end of the catches 42 is deflected laterally, so that when the rear end is engaged with the lug 41 the front end is. in position to be engaged by the heel of the rider after mounting, so as to be operated and disengaged from the stop 41, as clearly indicated by the full and dotted lines in Fig. 9. somewhat-similar brake mechanism is applied to the front and rear wheels, and consists of a pivoted arm 43 and a spring-arm 44, formed with or applied to the pivoted arm and held thereto by a tension-screw 45, whereby the pressure of the part or shoe 48 u pon the roller-brake 47 can be regulated by varying the distance between the arms 43 and 44. By a proper adjustment of the tension-screw 45 the shoe 48 can be made to bear upon the roller-brake 47 with a greater or less degree of pressure, thereby offering more or less resistance to the rotation of the roller-brake when brought in contact with the wheel of the machine. A spring 46 normally holds the brake away from the wheel and out of action. The brake-shoe 47 is a roller reduced intermediate of its ends to conform to the rim or tire of the wheel and is protected by a curved extension 48 of the spring-arm 44, which projects thereover. A rod or connection 49 is interposed between the front and rear brakes and has a spring 50 in its length to prevent the sudden application of the rear brake when operating the foot-lever to apply the front brake. The rod or connection 49 is held in place and directed in its movements by a series of guide-rollers 51, applied to the lower side of the frame 1. The rear end of the part 49 makes connection with the rear brake, and its front end is connected by a strap 52 with the foot-lever 53, the latter being pivoted at its front end to the front portion of the frame-bar 1 and havin g a cross-bar 54 and a curved bar 55 applied to its rear end, the curved bar 55 being adapted to engage with the curved extension 48, so as to set the brakes when pressing with one or both feet upon the cross-bar 54.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate an adaptation of the invention to a tricycle, the propelling mechanism and the brakes being substantially the same as herein described. The frame is differently constructed, being composed of side bars 56, which curve rearwardly and downwardly in a manner similar to the fork members 2 and having their front ends curved upwardly and inwardly and joined to the head-tube 4, the side bars being connected bytransverse bars 57 and 58. Stirrups 59 are applied to each side of the frame to enable the machine being easily mounted and serve as steps. When the machine is adapted for two riders, a second seat 60 is located-upon the rear portion of the frame, so that the riders may sit tandem; but for carrying trunks, parcels, and merchandise a platform 61 may be applied to the frame, as indicated by the dotted lines, and this platform may support a basket 62 or a barrel or like receptacle 63, which receives the merchandise or commodity to be transported. A shaft 64is located transversely of the frame and is mounted in bearings -applied to the side bars 56 and is supplied at its ends with brakes constructed substantially in the manner hereinbefore described, and a treadle 65 is secured to the shaft 64 at an intermediate point and comprises a foot-piece and side bars, the latter being secured to the shaft in the required position by binding-screws mounted in threaded openings formed in the apertured ends, through-which the shaft passes. A spring 66, interposed between the treadle and a part of the framework, normally holds the brakes out of action. The pedals are held in a normal position by springs 67, which are interposed between them at a convenient part of the framework, the springs being the same in every instance and serving the same purpose. A rod 68 joins the rear ends of the side bars 56 and the pedals 3 are fulcrumed thereto, and the axle 69 extends transversely of the machine and projects beyond the side bars 56 and receives drive wheels 70, which are loosely mounted thereon and caused to revolve therewith by a clutch of any desired form, but which is of the form illustrated most clearly in Figs. 13, 17, and 18, and consists of a rimmed disk 71, closed at its open side by a plate 72, a spur-plate 73, keyed upon the axle 69, rollers 74 to cooperate between the beveled ends of the arms or lugs of the spurplate 73, and springs 75, secured at their inner ends to the said arms or lugs and having their outer ends retaining the rollers 74 in place. The device just described when used as a simple clutch will have its rimmed disk 71 secured to the hub of the drive-wheel, and when employed as an intermittent grip mechanism between the axle and the pedals the rimmed disk 71 will be loosely mounted upon the axle, and the operating or pedal straps 25 will be secured thereto in the manner set forth, each rimmed disk being held in a normal position by a spring 38, which will be mounted upon the axle 69 and have one end secured to the rimmed disk and plate 72 and its opposite end connected with a transverse bar 76. The action of the feet may be supplemented by cords or straps 77, secured at their lower ends to the respective pedals and provided at their upper ends with handles 78, which when not in use may be engaged with hooks 79 at the lower side of the seat 16. These cords or straps 77 have their lower end portions passing around direction-pulleys 80 at the lower end of the pedal-yoke, said direction-pulleys being disposed obliquely, whereby the cords or straps 77 will not interfere with the free movements of the pedals. The only difference in construction between the form of tricycle illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 and that depicted in Figs. 14 and 15 is the mountings for the handle-bar and the particular formation of the treadle or foot-lever. The latter is a single arm 81, secured to the transverse shaft 64 by a binding-screw and having a circular foot-rest 82 applied to its outer end. This form of machine is wider and adapted for two or more persons sitting abreastin the front or rear, as indicated by the full and dotted lines, the front riders being adapted to propel the machine by the action of the pedals and the rear riders being enabled to assist in the propulsion by operating the cords or straps 77 by pulling upon the handles 7 8,which extend within convenient reach. As indicated by the dotted lines, the platform 61 and the basket 62 may be used when the machine is adapted as a carrier for merchandise or parcels. Foot-rests 83 are disposed at proper intervals along the length of the transverse bar 58 to receive the feet of the riders. An arch 84 connects the front ends of the side bars 56 and is strengthened by stays S5 and is connected at its upper end with a bearing for the upper end of the steering-post by means of an approximately semicircular brace 86, and a segmental support 87 springs from the brace 86 and prevents the handle-bar 88 from dropping down at its rear end, which it would do if not upheld by a support when not grasped by a rider, since it is pivoted at its front end to the steeringpost.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a propelling mechanism for bicycles and like machines, the combination with the frame, and the drive-axle, of a driving-clutch, a vertically-swinging pedal, a single speedchanging pulley having a boxing longitudinally slidable on the pedal, means for looking the pulley-boxing in a fixed position at any point of adjustment on the pedal, a fixed direction-pulley mounted on the frame, and an operating-cable connected at one end with the clutch, thence passed directly from the clutch to and under the shiftable speedchanging pulley, then up to and over the fixed direction-pulley on the frame, and from the latter extended to a fixed point of adjustment on the pedal, said speed-changing pulley being adjustable along the pedal from a position near said fixed point of attachment for the cable to a position in proximity to the vertical plane of the clutch, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination of a pair of bars spaced apart, forming a guide, a lug applied to one of the bars, a pedal element directed in its movements by the said bars, a spring for returning the pedal element to a normal position, and a catch piv oted intermediate of its ends to the pedal element immediately in the rear of the foot-rest and having its front end deflected laterally, substantially as shown for the purpose set forth.

3. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination with the frame, the steering-post, and a handle-bar, of an approximately horizontal brace having connection with the tube in which the steering-post is journaled, an upright support having connection at its lower end with the frame and joined at its upper end to the rear portion of the horizontal brace, and a segmental support at the juncture'of the upright and horizontal brace and having the rear portion of the handle-bar resting thereon, substantially as set forth.

a. In a bicycle or like machine, the combination with the frame, the steering-post, and a handle-bar having pivotal connection with the steering-post, of an upright arch having connection at its lower end with the side bars of the frame, an approximately horizontal brace connecting the upper portion of the arch with the upper part of the tube in which the steering-post is mounted, a diagonal brace between the lower end of said tube and the upper portion of the arch, and a segmental support for sustaining the rear portion of the handle-bar, substantially as described.

5. In a road-machine, the combination of pedal elements, upper direction pulleys, straps or cords secured to the pedal elements and passing over the upper direction-pulleys and adapted to transmit power to the drivewheel, lower direction-pulleys, and straps or cords attached to the pedal elements and passing beneath the lower direction-pulleys and extending within convenient reach to be drawn upon by hand to supplement the action of the foot pressure, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a pedal-yoke having end guides, upper and lower direction-pulleys, the latter being obliquely disposed, pedal elements operating in the guides of the pedalyoke, straps passing over the u pperdircctionpulleys and connected with the pedal ele- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ments for transmitting motion therefrom to my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the drive-wheel, and straps or cords having the presenoe of two Witnesses.

connection at one end with the pedal ele- WILLIAM HARMON. 5 ments and passing around the lower direotion- Witnesses:

pulleys and within reaolnsubstantially as and GEO. W. SINGLETARY,

for the purpose set forth. A. B. FERGUSON. 

